Andrew McGonigle

Project Goal

Develop a way to predict volcanic eruptions using a remote-controlled helicopter

Location: Italy

"I wanted first to understand how the universe worked ... my real passion is to use that understanding to come up with simple, elegant solutions."

Millions of people around the world live in the shadow of an active volcano, at risk of sudden death. Scottish physicist Andrew McGonigle is developing a reliable way to predict eruptions, using an unmanned, small-scale helicopter to measure gases that escape from volcanic vents. His combination of science and advanced technology has the potential to save thousands of lives.